Machine for making wire-fence stays.



No. 859,995. Patented Oct. l6, I900. C. E. WINTRODE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE FENCE STAYS. (Application filed June 6, i900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets $hee t unummmms-am- IIIIIIIIIIHFHJIIJIII Attorney smlssw s. Patented Oct. I6, 1900. c. E. wmmoua. MACHINE FOR MAKING WIREFENCE STAYS.

(Application filed. June 6, 1900.) (.No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Hmu im 7 Afmfne lhtilrhn STATES PATENT Y FFICF.

WlidlZil-HNE FOR MAKING WIRE-*F ENCE STAYS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 659,995, dated October16, 1900.

Application filed ne 6, 1900- Serial No. 19,284. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. WIN'IRODE, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Hunt ington, in the county of Huntington and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinesfor Making ire-Fence Stays; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for forming and twistingwire-fence stays or similar articles; and it has for its objectparticularly the production of a machine for forming wire-fence stays ofthe general construction shown and described in Letters Patent of theUnited States granted to me March 29, 1898, numbered 601,540; but I donot wish to be restricted to the particular use hereinafter described.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein the same parts are indicated by the same lettersthroughout the several views.

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my machine complete. Fig. 2 is anend view of the same as seen in Fig. 1 looking toward the top of thesheet. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the adjustablesupportingarms used in connection with my machine for carrying theheadpiece for holding the stay shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a detailperspective view of the headpiece provided with a tension-spring usedfor holding the top end of the stay. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a shortarm which supports the frame upon which the loop-formers are carried.Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of the twisting-hook or tailpiecewhich is mounted at the opposite end of the machine from the headpieceshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line '7 7 inFig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow, the dotted linesindicating the position of the pivoted frame which carries theloop-formers after having been released. Fig. 8 is a detail sideelevation of one form of the end standard, the dotted lines showing thearrangementof the gears and their mounting in the said standard. Fig. 9is a similar view of a modified form of standard. Fig. 10 is a similarview of a still furthermodified form of standard. Fig. 11 is an enlargeddetail perspective view of one of the adjustable loop-formers.

A and A are two stationary standards in the form of skeleton frames,inwhich is mounted a longitudinal beam 13, preferably in the form of anangle-iron, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This beam B is securely clampedin the said standards by means of set-screws b and b. The standard A issimply provided with an opening for the reception of one end of the beamB, while the opposite end standard A is provided, in addition to theopening a, for the reception of the said beam B, with an opening orhearing a for the passage of the cylindrical shank of the hookedtailpiece or twister 0. (Shown in detail in Fig. 6.) This hookedtailpiece is held in the said opening a (see Figs. 8, 9, and 10) bymeans of a crank or a gear-wheel mounted upon the end of the shankthereof. The crank may be mounted upon a squared portion on the end ofthe shankc of the hooked twister C (shown in Fig. 6)'should it bedesired to use the crank for turning the said hooked twister O. Iprefor, however, to use the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, in which apinion D is keyed upon the shank of the said twister O and an internalgear E, mounted upon the standard A and provided with a hand-crank orhandle E, gears with the said pinion for rotating the latter. Thisarrangement is preferable for the reason that greater speed may beacquired and greater rapidity in twisting the stay effected.

Fig. 10 shows a view of a standard such as would be used if thehand-crank on the end of the twister were alone used; but eitherstandard A (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) or standard A (shown in Fig. 8) orthe standard A (shown in Fig. 9) may be used when the pinion andgear arepreferred. The construction of the standards A and A is substantiallythe same, the principal difierence being in the arrangement of thegears; but the construction of the standard A is different, as will beseen from an inspection of said fig ure. The construction of thestandard and the arrangement of the gears shown in Figs. 1 and 2 arepreferred.

F represents an arm which is adjustably mounted at one end upon theangle-beam B and provided with a set-screw), bymeans of which F isprovided at its free end with a squared opening f for the reception ofthe squared shank H of the headpiece H.

This headpiece H has a widened or flaring portion I-I upon which arefixed a group of rigid pins or studs. One of these pins h shouldpreferably be stouter and stationary to receive the extreme uppermostloop in the stay, and

the remaining pins h may be lighter and may be made adjustable orremovable in order, if desired, that the form of the ornamental loops 4at the head of the stay may be varied. The shank H of the headpiece H ispreferably elongated, and over this shank is fitted a-coilspring H,which is retained upon the said shank by means of a bolt 72/ 31116.Washer h 'or by means of a cotter-pin or any other suitable equivalentdevice preferred. The spring I bears against the side of the arm F andserves formed.

K is a frame which is preferably formed of i a bent rod-havingright-angled extensions K, which are pivoted at one end, as at It, inthe In Fig. 5 is shown 1 lowing the said frame't-o be dropped to apendent position, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 7, when it is desiredto twist the stay after having formed the loops thereon. Any

suitable means may be used; but I have shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 7 astandard or rod K pivotally mounted upon the frame K and arranged tosupport the latter when set up-' right, but to let the frame fall whenthe footof said standard is knocked out laterally.

Mounted upon the frame K are a succession of adjustable loop-formers L.(Shown in detail in Fig. 11.) These loop-formers are preferably in theform of blocks, such as L provided with a recess L in its under side tofit over the frame or rod K and provided with a set-screw L for clampingthe said block at any adjustment upon the said frame or rod. The blocksL may be made of wood or metalpreferably iron for the sake ofstrength-and upon the upper side of these are mounted staples orspace-studs, about which the wire may be looped. The staple such asshown thence brought backwardly toward the hooktwister, being loopedonce about. each of the loop-formers L, which latter may be arranged atany desired regular or irregular intervals. After being looped abouteach of the loopformers L in succession the wire is secured to thehooked twister C. The pivoted frame K is then released and dropped toits pendent position, thus disengaging the loop-formers from the loopsin the wire. The stay is then twisted by a continuous rotation of thegears or the crank used for rotating the twister, a-n-d the :stay isfinished and may be disengaged from the machine by having its headslipped off the studs on the headpiece H and then disengaged at itsbottom and from the twister O.

The adj ustability- -o'f the arm F permits the use of the machine formaking stays of any desired length within the limits of the length ofthe machine, and the spring on the headpiece supplies the desiredtension to the stay E at all times during its formation. to give atension to the stay as it is being:

The many advantages of my machine will 1 be apparent to any one skilledin the art and need not be herein specifically referred to.

While I have simply shown a machine as used for making fence-stays, I donot wish to be understood as limiting myself to such use, as it will beperfectly apparent that it may be applied to many different uses of thesame general nature.

I do not wish to limit myself to the details of construction hereindescribed and shown in the accompanyi-ng'drawings, as many modificationsand variations therein might be made which could be usedwithoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, i's

1. In a machine for forming wire-fence stays, the combination with alongitudinal support; a laterally-extending arm adjustably mounted uponsaid longitudinal support; a headpiece non-rotatably mounted in saidarm, and means thereon for the engagement -'of the head of the stay; ofa rotatable tailpiece provided with means for engaging the foot of thestay; means for rotating said tailpiece; a swinging frame; loop-formerscarried by said frame; and means for retaining said swinging frame inposition for the engagementof said loop-formers by the stay,substantially as described.

'2. In a machine for forming wire-fence stays, the combination with alongitudinal support; a laterally-extending arm mounted upon saidlongitudinal support; a longitudinallymovable headpiece non -rotatablymounted in said arm, and means thereon for the engagement of the head ofthe stay; a spring tending to retract said headpiece; of arotatabletailpiece provided with means for engaging the foot of the stay; meansfor rotating said tailpiece; a swinging frame; loopformers carried bysaid frame; and means for retaining said swinging frame in position forthe engagement of said loop-formers by I the stay, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a machine for forming wire-fence stays, the combination with alongitudinal support; a laterally-extending arm adjustably mounted uponsaid longitudinal support; a headpiece non-rotatably mounted in saidarm, and means thereon for the engagement of the head of the stay; of arotatable tailpiece provided with means for engaging the foot of thestay; means for rotating said tailpiece; a swinging frame; loop-formersseparately and adjustably carried by said frame; and means for retainingsaid swinging frame in position for the engagement of said loop-formersby the stay, substantially as described.

4:- In a machine for forming Wire-fence stays, the combination with alongitudinal support; a latera1ly-extending arm adjustably mounted uponsaid longitudinal sup port; a headpiece non-rotatably mounted in saidarm, and means thereon for the engagement of the head of the stay; of arotatable tailpiece provided with means for engaging the foot of thestay; means for rotating said tailpiece; a swinging frame; loop-formerscarried by said frame; and a catch on said frame for retaining saidswinging frame in position for the engagement of said loop-form ers bythe stay, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the adjustable sup= porting-arm; of theheadpiece having an el0ngated shank non-rotatably mounted thereon; aspring inclosing said shank, and confined against said arm; and arotatable tailpiece or twister, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the adjustable supporting-arm; of the headpiecehaving an elon gated shank non-rotatably mounted thereon; a springinclosing said shank, and confined against said arm; a tailpiece ortwister having a shank journaled in a fixed bearing; a pinion on saidshank; and a gear meshing with said pinion for rotating the latter, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the adjustable supporting-arm; of the headpiecehaving an elongated shank non-rotatably mounted thereon; a springinclosing said shank, and confined against said arm; a tailpiece ortwister hav ing a shank journaled in a fixed bearing; a pinion on saidshank; and an internal gear meshing with said pinion for rotating thelat ter, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES E. WINTRODE.

Witnesses:

HERBERT A. HUFF, H. L. HUFF.

